My children
practice on the electronic keyboard we
have at home, but when it malfunctioned, we took it to a service center to get
it repaired. The technician said that the problem was a minor one and would
return the instrument at the end of the day. We went in the evening to take
delivery of the repaired keyboard, but since I did not find an empty parking
space, I gave Esther and Rakshan the money so that they could pay the Service center
and bring back the keyboard.
They took longer than expected to return with the keyboard,
so I asked them the reason for the delay.
Esther explained that Rakshan asked for a receipt but the technician refused
and the delay was because she insisted
on having it. She went to narrate
that as they were about to leave when Esther stopped and asked him why
he wouldn't give them a receipt. He said it was just a repair job and the norm was not to give a customer a
receipt for repairs. Esther asked if he could give them a receipt and he said
yes. She asked him for once again and he replied it was not the norm to give a receipt
for repairs jobs. She said that she wanted a receipt
and persisted with her persuasive skills till he gave one to her.
Thinking
‘commercially’, I explained to them that he was probably trying to save on tax.
I reasoned that if he did not wish to give us the receipt, they could have asked
a discount, to which Rakshan all of fourteen responded that it was better to fix
accountability than to get a discount.
I think this accountability bit does not come naturally or does it? its the experience that the children glean from what they have been exposed to. A boy asking for a receipt for the money paid would certainly make an impact on the service centre person. watch out people the millennials are not going to take nonsense... !!!!!
ReplyDeleteAccountability is also transparency.. and asking for a receipt or a ticket on the bus is a must.. My kids face that one.. as BMTC conductors do not issue tickets for short distances and charge a rupee or two less.. These are good lessons for the future!!
ReplyDeleteThe technician should inform at the outset that additional charges would be levied in case a receipt is provided. This way, customers can decide whether they want a discount or a receipt. But appreicate Rakshan. Where do kids today learn all these things??
ReplyDeleteInsisting on receipt is a healthy habit whether for own records or to fix accountability. Our generation has allowed the trend of not insisting on receipts. Happy that a young boy did insist, perhaps making a beginning to curtail the accumulation of unaccounted and black money in a growing economy. Kudos to Rakshan.
ReplyDeleteIt is always easy to blame the system when it does not work for us and a sense of convenience it does. Building and sustaining a system has a price attached to it and clearly the kids were willing to pay the price for a larger good. well done!
ReplyDeleteJust stumbled onto this, from the link at the bottom of your last mail.
ReplyDeleteI think true values have been inculcated at this young age - you must be proud parents :-)